| January 3, 2008 | News for the wholesale distribution industry |
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- Rapid growth led WinWholesale to upgrade supply chain ops
WinWholesale, the third biggest industrial wholesale-distributor in the U.S., saw huge gains in efficiency after undertaking an upgrade of its supply-chain operations, moving its Phoenix and Dayton, Ohio, distribution centers -- which were operating at or above capacity -- to new, bigger facilities, which were fully operational in five days. "The project has been tremendously beneficial. In both Phoenix and Dayton, we have doubled our receiving and shipping quantities without increasing headcount," said WinWholesale's Jeff Porter. CRM Buyer
(12/29)
    
- PNA to acquire Precision
Atlanta-based PNA Group Inc. will purchase Houston's Precision Flamecutting & Steel for an undisclosed sum. PNA already markets products through its Delta Steel and Metals Supply Co. Ltd. brands, both based in Houston, and the Precision acquisition will broaden the company's reach in the area. American City Business Journals/Houston
(12/28)
| Best Practices | | |
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- Value-proposition marketing requires key components
When marketing a value proposition, keep in mind that your competition is likely to meet or exceed any claims you make. Some key components in conveying an effective message include communicating company, account and opportunity values, as well as delivering tailored, relevant messages to your target demographics. CustomerThink
(12/19)
- Role of branding in social networking debated
Writing in SmartBIZ, Rich Karpinski describes a recent spirited posting by a blogger in response to the question of whether brands should join or build their own social networks, and he notes that how businesses "fit into the social network universe" will be an important trend to keep an eye on in the new year. SmartBIZ
(12/20)
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| Small Business Manager | | |
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| Executive Life | | |
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- More streamlined flight experience expected in 2008
To ease air congestion and simplify the flying experience, more airports will add self-service kiosks and additional routes, says Douglas McArthur of the Globe and Mail newspaper. Travelers should also expect some airlines to allow passengers to check in via cell phone and to offer expanded in-air entertainment. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
(1/2)
- Not your mom's hot chocolate
Food, beverage and restaurant consultant Kathy Casey remembers that her mother prepared homemade hot chocolate by warming milk in a Revereware pan and mixing in Hershey's cocoa powder and sugar, sometimes adding a cinnamon stick or vanilla for extra flavoring. This article includes a link to her recipe for Bollywood spiced cocoa, inspired by Seattle chocolate company Theo's 3400 Phinney Coconut Curry Milk Chocolate bar. The Seattle Times
(1/2)
| NAW Insider | | |
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Employee Performance Improvement Tool Kit: Your key HR resource
Every distributor needs a more structured approach to improving employee performance, and the Employee Performance Improvement Tool Kit (book and CD) fits that bill. Use it to find, hire, develop, evaluate and retain efficient and effective employees. It includes dozens of customizable templates and 21 different samples of distribution jobs. Make it a key component in your human resources program.
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Maximize your salesforce's productivity
Did you know that inside and outside salesforces are 30% to 40% of the typical distributor's operating expenses? Many distributors don't know that or how to measure sales productivity and whether they are becoming more or less productive. Let Restructuring the Distribution Sales Effort for Maximum Productivity guide you through the process from the traditional fully loaded salesforce cost structure to new salesforce models that promise higher profitability.
| Weekly Poll | | |
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Will your company explore new marketing techniques in 2008?
After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.
 | Yes, we are ready for a change. |
| No, what we currently do works well. |
| Maybe, but we are likely to continue proven techniques, too. |
| SmartQuote | | |
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- Wednesday, January 02, 2008
- Monday, December 31, 2007
- Friday, December 28, 2007
- Thursday, December 27, 2007
- Wednesday, December 26, 2007
| | | Lead Editor: Ashley McMaster
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